VOLUME 22 NUMBER 27
FREE
OCTOBER 8, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
DHS to provide Rockdales welcomes first African American free counseling Juvenile Court Judge Maureen Wood By Valerie J. Morgan during Medicare ockdale County’s open enrollment Juvenile Court
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he Georgia Department of Human Services stands ready to assist older Georgians making decisions about Medicare health and prescription drug plans during this year’s Medicare open enrollment period. The enrollment period for Medicare, which serves millions of older Americans, will open Oct. 15 and end Dec. 7. The GeorgiaCares program, administered through the Department’s Division of Aging Services (DAS), is available now through the end of the enrollment period to help Georgians make informed decisions about Medicare health and prescription drug plans. GeorgiaCares is the name for Georgia’s federally-funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The program provides free, unbiased, one-onone counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries as they seek to create personalized coverage solutions and understand changes in their current plans. “Understanding your options and making decisions about your medical coverage can be overwhelming, but choosing a Medicare plan is an important decision for the future of your health care,” DAS Director Abby Cox said. “GeorgiaCares is available to help all Georgia Medicare beneficiaries understand their options so they can make an informed decision about the future of their health care coverage.” Counselors are available statewide to assist with Medicare questions and offer personalized counseling through the program’s toll-free help line at 866-5524464. Callers seeking Medicare counseling should choose Option 4. Georgians can also compare plans at www.Medicare.gov, call 800-Medicare 800-633-4227 or visit www.mygeorgiacares.org to learn more. For more information about GeorgiaCares and other services available to older Georgians and their families, visit the DHS Division of Aging Services at www.aging.ga.gov or call 866-552-4464.
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Judge Maureen Wood took the reigns on Monday, filling a position formerly held by long-time Judge William Schneider. Wood was sworn into office on Sept. 30 by Chief Judge David Irwin, who apJudge Maureen Wood pointed her to the four-year position. Wood is Rockdale’s first African American to hold the seat. She is also believed to be the first female ever appointed as a Rockdale Juvenile Court judge. L-R Attorneys Sherri Washington and Tami Wells Thomas, Probate “I am looking forward to serving in my new Court Judge-Elect Clarence Cuthpert, Judge Maureen Wood and position. I’m still getting acclimated but I would like Judge Phinia Aten attend the welcome reception at Las Flores to encourage more community members to consider restaurant in Conyers. becoming mentors for the mentoring program for The Newrock Legal Society emphasizes educating youths. We also are seeing a need for foster families lawyers and community members on the law to ensure within Rockdale County. Oftentimes, our children in justice is administered fairly. foster care are placed all over the state,” said Wood. Attorney Sherri Washington, who is president-elect Wood, who completed her undergraduate work at of the Newrock Legal Society, said she, too, felt it was Spelman College in Atlanta, earned her law degree important for the organization to show its support for from University of Tennessee. She grew up in MurJudge Wood. freesboro, Tennessee. “Her appointment is historic and we wanted to Wood met her husband, David, met while she was show our support for her,” said Washington. “We at Spelman and he was attending Morehouse College. wanted to let her know that the Newrock Legal Society He is also an attorney. is here as a family to support her in all of her endeavBefore Judge Wood’s appointment to the Juvenile ors.” Court, she and her husband ran a law practice together Rockdale County’s Juvenile Court has jurisdiction that they had operated since 2006 in Rockdale. over all children under 17 who are alleged to be: The Newrock Legal Society held a welcome • Deprived (abused, neglected, abandoned, moreception for Judge Wood on Oct. 5 in Conyers. Attor- lested, etc.) ney Tami Wells Thomas, who serves as president of • Delinquent (ages 7 to 16 depending on child’s the organization, said it was important for the group maturity) to welcome Wood to the bench and give community • Unruly, runaway, truant, ungovernable or beresidents the chance to meet her and welcome her to yond parental control her new role. • Commit a moving traffic violation. “She is a founding member of the Newrock Legal Wood is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Society. She has been very active with the organizaShe also is a member of the child welfare law section tion, working on a number of community issues as of the state bar, the Rockdale Bar Association, Nationwell as serving on the executive board,” Thomas said. al Association of Council for Children and the Geor“We wanted to show our support for her personally gia Association of Council for Children. She and her and professionally.” husband have three daughters.
Federal funds to aid underwater mortgages
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eKalb County, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, announced an initiative to help approximately 150,000 Georgians reduce the principals on their underwater mortgages. “DeKalb County residents who owe more than their homes are worth can get the relief they need from this federally-funded program,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. “This program can help eligible DeKalb residents stay in their homes.” Many areas throughout the county were affected by the Great Recession as home prices plunged and the job market shrank. Through the new, limited-time, federally-funded state initiative called “Underwater Georgia,” eligible applicants may be able to receive a one-time payment of up to $50,000 to reduce the principal balance on their homes. From now until Oct. 18, homeowners can visit www. underwatergeorgia.org to determine eligibility and begin a pre-application. Because demand for the program is expected to far surpass total resources available, Underwater Georgia will
operate through a random third-party selection process. Once funds have been exhausted, the program will close. To qualify, homeowners must meet several criteria:
• The property must be your primary residence (and only home) and purchased prior to Jan. 1, 2012. • The total amount owed on all mortgages on the home must be $250,000 or less and mortgage payments have to be less than 90 days past due. • Total gross household income must not exceed 140 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). • The property must have a total loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of at least 110 percent. • Applicants cannot have previously received assistance through HomeSafe Georgia. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will contact homeowners selected and work with them directly to complete a full application, which also includes submitting supporting documentation. For more information, visit www.underwatergeorgia. org, call 1-877-519-4443, or email underwatergeorgia@ dca.ga.gov.